Ponting leads Kumble tributes

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was full of praise for Anil Kumble after the India skipper retired from international cricket.

Last Updated: 04/11/08 11:31am

Australia captain Ricky Ponting led the tributes for Anil Kumble after the India skipper retired from international cricket following the drawn third Test in Delhi.

Kumble, 38, revealed that he had already decided to quit at the end of the four-Test series, but injuries forced him to reconsider and step down with immediate effect.

The 38-year-old had already missed the second Test - which India won by 320 runs - because of a shoulder problem, and was sidelined for much of the latest encounter with a finger injury.

"I'd like to congratulate Anil Kumble on behalf of the Australia team for an outstanding career," said Ponting, whose side are 1-0 down heading to the series decider in Nagpur, which starts on Thursday.

"He's a great competitor and I said to him as he was coming out that every single Australia player I've spoken to has always been delighted with the way he plays the game.

"He's one of the modern-day greats of the game."

Inspiration

Kumble made his debut back in 1990 and has since taken 619 wickets in 132 Tests, placing him third on the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

India team-mate VVS Laxman, who scored a unbeaten double century and half-century in Delhi, paid tribute to his departing captain.

"He has been a great inspiration to me and will be for generations to come," said Laxman.

"All of us are really proud and we wish him a successful career after cricket and thank him for all he has achieved and contributed to Indian cricket."

India's chief selector and former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth added: "He is a brilliant captain and has motivated lots of youngsters.

"I think he is the only player without a single controversy in his career as a cricketer. That's his greatest quality.